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Calgary Stampede steer wrestling: Bray Armes a competitor to watch

Bray Armes grew up in Texas wrestling steers, competing in rodeos and even attending university on a rodeo scholarship.

But then, life set in. Armes got married, started a family and became a wheat farmer in the Texas panhandle.

"I told everyone I was done rodeoing but deep down I still hadn't," said Armes in an interview with CBC.

At the age of 30, Armes started his comeback. He turned pro and hasn't looked back since. He's racked up over $500,000 US in lifetime earnings on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit.

Bray Armes will be making his third trip to the Calgary Stampede to compete. Although the Stampede is not a part of the PRCA circuit, it still attracts top steer wrestlers because of the $100,000 prize.

Steer wrestling

Steer wrestling is a timed event. The steer bursts out of a chute. The cowboy and horse follow, starting the clock.

The cowboy must quickly catch up to the steer and dismount his moving horse and jump onto the steer. He then slows the animal and wrestles it to the ground. The clock stops when a judge signals that the steer is on its side with all four legs sticking out.

"It's all about technique — technique and timing," said Armes. "Your timing has to be perfect."

What to you like about the Stampede?

"The Stampede is a rodeo like no other. The fans are unbelievable. It's just top-notch. Anything we need, we go ask the committee man and it's taken care of.

"There are a lot of tourists there that may have not seen rodeo before but, as far as the people that are from Canada, they seem very knowledgeable."

Do you miss farming?

"You know, I still miss the farming. Heck, when you grow up and that's all you've done for forever — it's just you kind of miss it now and again."